Feb152012

In Which Gail Gets Into It About Sundowners

I had an interesting question from my Swedish publisher, Gentle Reader, addressing the subject of Sundowners.

Fan Art Conall lord_maccon_in_anubis_form_by_mommyspike-d4al8wa

All About Sundowners in the Parasolverse

Cinnamon roll Lyall Alexia Genevieve Lefoux Conall Maccon

They were hoping I could sort it out for them.

“Alexia also suspected there were a few sundowners left among the ranks, though not used much anymore.”

~ From Soulless

Later on in the book Lord Maccon is referred to as the “chief sundowner”.

  • One editor felt that there was a certain difference between the two uses of the word.
  • The other thought it was just one of the authorities that Lord Maccon had – to kill supernaturals.

As ever the reader is welcome to interpret my universe however they see fit. I don’t write it for me, I write it for you.

  • My intent, however, is that sundowner specifically means “a person authorized to kill supernaturals.” A sundowner doesn’t necessarily have to be a supernatural himself (or herself).
  • Chief sundowner does not mean “the person in charge of all the other sundowners” instead it implies “first” or “primary” or “best of the best.”
  • This also means he would have the ear of the queen.

Chief sundowner is an achieved position, sundowner (alone) is an ascribed position.

The men of the Soulless manga, cabinet card

(Look at me pulling out the Anthropology 101.)

Sundowners were originally independent agents, not affiliated with the military or civil service – rather like a privateer vrs a pirate.

In the old days when vampires and werewolves were hunted, sundowners would be granted a writ of authority from the government to murder as they wish.

Eventually, when supernatural creatures became part of everyday British life, and King Henry the Eighth officially recognized them – sundowners became less common and were absorbed into BUR, and probably into the secret service as well.

Brick Outhouse Gail Carriger Quote Maccon Crap Blameless

In Lord Maccon’s case, technically speaking, even as chief sundowner he should always go get (and be granted) permission to kill ahead of time.

As happens in Blameless, this is not always the case.

Necessity sometimes dictates he must go attain post hoc approval.

* * * SPOILER FOR BLAMELESS * * *

However, the only way he could get away with killing the Potentate in Blameless without immediate imprisonment is because he is a sundowner.

Sundowners show up again in Prudence and in this book

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Posted by Gail Carriger

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